Page 9

CAM

I knew since the moment I caught her outside of that moving truck that Kelly would be mine for good, but after all the shit with Frank and the arrest, I want to make it official.

No. I need to. I want everyone to see the ring on her finger and to know she's mine. I want her to have my last name, to be my wife in the eyes of the law and the rest of the world.

So a few weeks after I get out of jail—only for a half a day while everything was processed, thank fuck—I suck up my pride and ask for help.

I'm hopeless when it comes to jewelry, and all of Kelly's stuff is dainty and simple.

It was hard enough to swipe one of her rings when she was sleeping to get her ring size, but it was, of course, just a simple gold band, giving me no clue what designs she'd like.

I knew Kelly didn't speak to her mom much, so I asked the only other woman I had any sort of trust in—Mrs. Blevins.

The older woman was over the moon about our little ‘date’, holding onto my arm as we walked down the streets of downtown Covington, and after we stopped for coffee, we headed to the jewelry store in the corner.

It's been in the town for almost a century, owned by the same family, and I'm hopeful the right ring will be here.

"This one is gorgeous," Mrs. Blevins says, pointing to a large diamond on a golden band, "but you said all of her jewelry is simple, right? Describe it to me."

"Gold bands mostly, but there are a couple of silver pieces. Nothing flashy."

She hums thoughtfully. "I think I have an idea. Do you trust me, Cameron?"

I grimace at my full name but nod. "Of course."

Mrs. Blevins leads me around the store, showing me ring after ring, all of them different in subtle but meaningful ways.

The worker behind the counter offers opinions, but it's clear he's giving Agatha the space to lead.

Finally, when we're near the back of the store, Mrs. Blevins points at a display of rings with small, delicate bands, each with a slightly different gemstone.

"These are just what I was thinking," she says, smiling at me. “Your Kelly is a special woman, and she deserves a special, unique ring, don’t you think?”

The first three I look at aren't right—two too small, one too big—but when I spot the third to last ring, I know I've found the one. The band is dainty and gold, and there's a deep blue sapphire nestled in it. The stone is the exact color of her eyes. It's perfect.

"This one," I say softly, holding it out to the worker. "This is the one I want."

The worker takes it, nods, and disappears into the back. A minute later, he returns with a small box. The ring is inside, sitting on a little white cushion. I stare at it for a long moment before taking the box and tucking it into my pocket .

"You've got the ring," Mrs. Blevins says, grinning and clapping her hands. "Now all you've got to do is ask her. When are you going to do it?"

"I was thinking I'd rent a boat and take her out tonight. It's going to be a full moon and clear skies."

"Nonsense! That's not how you ask a woman to marry you. You need a romantic starlit evening, candles, and wine, and then you do it at the end of the night."

"Mrs. Blevins, we live in Georgia. It's a million degrees out. An outdoor candlelit dinner isn't going to work."

"Well, hm. All right, you do the boat thing. I suppose that sounds romantic enough." She gives me a stern look. "But don't get cold feet. That girl is special."

"I know," I tell her solemnly.

Mrs. Blevins smiles, clearly pleased with herself. "I'm going to make a call to the other ladies to tell them the news.”

"After the proposal," I say sternly, and she grins.

"Of course, dear. Just make it quick. My patience isn't what it used to be."

Kelly is a vision in a yellow sundress, but she's unsure as she climbs on the boat I've rented, gripping my arm so hard her knuckles are white.

"I'm not sure about this," she says, looking at the water.

I wrap an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. "It'll be fine, sweetheart. I'm a strong swimmer, and if you start to fall overboard, I'll save you. "

"Not helping!"

I laugh. Normally I'd let her bail on the date and just take her home to spend time together, but I've only had the ring for a handful of hours and it's already burning a damn hole in my pocket. Every time I move, I can feel it there, ready to change the entire course of the rest of my life.

I'm not nervous. In fact, I can't fucking wait. Kelly is the only person for me, the one I want by my side forever.

I don't take her out too far, just far enough that the lights of the marina fade and we can see all the stars above us.

The moon is heavy and bright, and Kelly starts to relax as I open a bottle of champagne, passing her a glass.

I prefer whiskey, but it didn't seem like the best choice for a proposal.

"This is nice," Kelly says, taking a sip of her champagne. "I thought I'd be terrified being out here, but it's actually kind of peaceful."

"See? I told you everything would be okay."

She smiles, and I set aside my own glass to pull out the box from my pocket. Kelly is staring up at the sky, so she doesn't notice until I'm down on one knee.

"What..." Her eyes widen, and her mouth drops open.

"Kelly," I say, taking her hand, "from the moment I saw you, I knew you were mine. You came here for a reason, and that reason was to be mine. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Kelly. You're it for me."

I open the box, and she lets out a little gasp. The gem catches the light of the full moon, making it sparkle and shine.

"Will you marry me?" I ask, looking up into her beautiful eyes.

Tears fill them, and her chin trembles. "Cam, are you sure? "

"I've never been more sure about anything in my life, Kelly. You're the one I want by my side through everything. Please."

She nods, a single tear trailing down her cheek. "Yes. Of course, I will!"

I stand up, pulling her into my arms. She's shaking, but she's smiling, too, and I lift her into the air, kissing her deeply. She giggles against my mouth, wrapping her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck.

"I love you," I whisper, brushing our noses together.

"I love you, too, baby."

I slide the ring onto her finger and kiss her again. I want to get her home right now, strip her out of that dress, and make love to her all night long, but we still have a few things to take care of on the boat.

Still, the kiss turns heated, and before I know it, I'm kissing a trail down her neck in the moonlight, and she’s rolling her hips against my hard cock through my pants.

"How … how long do we have the boat for?" Kelly breathes, her fingers finding their way into my hair.

"I don't give a fuck," I growl, lowering her to the white leather captain's chair, already tugging on the straps of her dress. "I'll pay the late fee."

Kelly's laughter turns to sighs of pleasure, and there beneath the stars, I show her once again just how much she means to me.